19-year-old is appointed to Riverton City Council

Adam Bass' life isn't much different than any other Utah teenager - if you take away his Tuesday nights.

The 19-year-old works full time to earn college tuition money, loves studying Civil War history and enjoys spending any spare time he has with his girlfriend.On Tuesdays, he helps run a city.

Bass was recently appointed to Riverton's five-member city council, making him one of the youngest ever to serve on a Utah city governing body.

The Utah League of Cities and Towns does not keep records of council members' ages, but could not recall any city officials younger than Bass.

Yes, the Bingham High graduate is only a year beyond voting age - but don't call him a political tenderfoot.

"It was Adam's experience that got him appointed," said Riverton Mayor Sandra Lloyd, who first met Bass several years ago when she spoke to his 9th grade history class.

At the time, Lloyd was running for her first term. When class ended, Bass approached the future mayor and asked what she planned to do for Riverton's youth.

Lloyd made good on her promise to organize a city youth council, with Bass among the charter members. A year later, Bass became Riverton's youth mayor.

"I was very impressed with Adam's maturity level and his interest in government," said Lloyd, recalling Bass' youth mayor interview. "I asked him about goals and he said he wanted to be president of the United States one day."

Bass' tenure in Riverton's youth leadership offered several service opportunities - along with the ears of the city's elected leaders. He became a regular at city meetings, developing an appreciation of the challenges facing Riverton's growing community.

He was appointed to the city planning commission last summer and immediately began dealing with zoning, annexation and other growth aspects.

"Being a planning commissioner was an incredible experience; I was able to put my hands into city issues," Bass said.

While still making the adjustment from high school to college last fall, Bass decided to seek elected office, running for Riverton City Council.

He lost to current council member Cherri White, but obviously gained the respect of Lloyd and other city leaders. When incumbent Councilman Duane Williams resigned to serve a church mission, Bass was selected to fill his seat from a pool of 13 applicants.

His term will run through 1999.

Bass said he's excited about being a council member who will take Riverton into the next century.

"We need some definite long-range planning in our community; we need to decide now what we want our city to be in 30 or 40 years," he said.

Bass admits he keeps a hectic schedule for a teenager. He works full time at This Is The Place State Park and will soon be back in class.

He hopes to be a high school history teacher and recently joined 37,000 other Civil War buffs for a battle re-enactment at Gettysburg.

"I fought with the Union side this time," said Bass, a member of the Utah Civil War Association.

Although Bass said he still thinks of claiming the Oval Office chair, his top priority for now is college. The future will determine his political ambitions.

"I'm going to go (politically) where I feel I can be the best use," he said.